We were supposed to publish our post yesterday, but life got the better of us. And the heat got the better of our kids. Thank you to the great bloggers that helped organize it and thank you for letting us participate. We had originally planned to write this all together as a blog but then after talking we realized we all had different reasons for sewing so we decided on each one of us sharing a little blurp.

From Al:

Sewing is so much more than just creating. It is a way of connecting to those that have come before. It is passing on the traditions of my mother and grandmothers and their mothers before them back through the generations. It is a spiritual connection with those who I desire to know and emulate. There are so many arts that are lost through time. Sewing is just one little way of keeping a treasure alive. Some things I learn are new skills, but others are old skills with modern spins on them.

One of my favorite parts of sewing comes at the end when the project is completed. Pictures are taken to capture that moment in time and personality of those that are sewn for. I treasure these pictures of my kids more than anything else. I often times feel nostalgic and find myself skimming through the pictures over the years and being amazed at the transformation. It is encouraging as a mother to see these beautiful children that you have created and are trying to raise in goodness and righteousness.

Sewing is a way for me to make something for my family that shows how much I love them. Most things made could not be purchased. Or if they could be purchased, they wont stand the test of time that something made with the love of my hands could. Some things take weeks to finish, but knowing that gift of time makes the item that much more valued.


From Scary:
For me sewing is spiritual. I know that may seem a little deep for just putting thread to fabric, it is more than that to me. I am sort of hyperactive bouncing all around trying to get everything done. Sewing requires me to be calm as I plan, research, work, tweak & finish. (Sewing blogging has really helped with the last one :) before blogging I had more UFOs then I could count on one hand...or was that on both hands and both feet?) Sewing hasn't always been this but we don't have a piano and playing basketball is hard with two kids running around. There have been moments where I didn't know how I was going to wake up the next morning but then I dove straight into a project and some how I had the courage to make it through.

I sewed up the waves of summer collection when I was freaking out about a change in employment for my husband. And the fact that I was going to be moving/parenting two very young kids by myself for whole month.

When I approach a project I usually try to sew things that go beyond utility, items that each have a unique story. When I look at garments made with/by my mom and grandmas I feel their love. It is like a hug that lasts. There was a dress that was made by Grandma Twila nearly two decades ago that I can't wait to put on Boston. Boston will have never have had the chance to meet Grandma but she will have the chance to wear a garment made by the skilled fingers of her Great Grandma. How many "things" really have that sort of value. It is a value that can't be purchased.

Bohemian Baby Doll was made from my Grandma's Vintage Cotton and my MIL wedding dress

If you asked my kids what their favorite item that I ever made they would say without a doubt their double sided minky blankets. Which kinda makes me giggle because I had no idea what I was getting into when I started it. I had never sewn on minky before. I really wasn't highly proficient in knits.
To say I struggled would be an understatement. I sewed and seam ripped until it was "right". Looking at those blankets they may not be perfect (especially my terrible binding job around Ryder's) but my kids have loved the heck out of them. They have been dragged through the mud, washed, thrown up on, washed, spilled up on, washed and reloved each time. My kids travel with them, cuddle with them daily and build forts with them. The fact that I didn't know how to make a minky blanket and they both blankets have multiple flaws mean absolutely nothing to them. They know when they cuddle with their blanket that their Mom loves them. And that I am willing to wade through a new and strange concept for them.

I made these blankets the for Christmas for Ryder only weeks before Boston arrived. Which means when I made the blankets I had only recently got back into sewing.

My favorite reason for sewing might be the most unexpected at least for me it was. It is the relationships & community. I love people but I do not have a magnetic personality. I am pretty awkward and bit shy. I have the desire to be outgoing, but when I do I usually find myself falling flat on my social face. Sewing has become the vehicle for the beginning of many important friendships in my life.  Just yesterday, I was over whelmed by the kind words said by many of you. I thought about how blessed I was to have such encouraging friends. I came into sewing/blogging thinking that I would be able to help others; instead I have found that the benefits to me have been exponential and the friendships are among some of my dearest.

From Jo:
Why do I sew?

So I totally spaced that I was the one supposed to be posting today until yesterday afternoon. It was full of family fun awesomeness so I didn't get my tutorial written. While I am working on finishing that I need your help with this project. This post has been an itch in my head over the last couple weeks and today feels like the right day to put it out. 

Growing up we spent a lot of time at my Grandma Twila's home. She had a laugh that filled the whole house. Her kitchen was always full of delicious country style cooking complete with a small half pint jar full of bacon grease on the stovetop. For most of my life, she was perfectly pleasantly plump; her body absolutely ideal for snuggling her 20+ grandchildren. To fight against her pleasantly plump, she was an intermittent dieter.
She would sign up for Weight Watchers for a few months at a time, with the goal to loose 15 to 20 lbs. She frequently would cheat the point system. Spending all of her points on one delicious Sunday Dinner and then she would eat celery and carrots for the remainder of the week. She would do this for a couple weeks until she was tired of all the healthy eating and then she would go back to her usual routine.
The other day I was talking to Jo about the phrase I hate most and one that I have been internally struggling with for the last couple weeks. When she reminded me that it was a refrigerator magnet at Grandma Twila's. As soon as she reminded me I could instantly see it. I knew the exact colors, the dots around the words and the cute font it was written in.  This may not seem impressive but my Grandma has been gone for 10 years now and this magnet was not more than 1/2" tall and 3" wide.
Today, this quote is everywhere; their are innumerable Pinterest Boards dedicated to this exact phrase. I find it so repulsive, I really don't want to write it (but if we are going to move past it I guess I kinda have to):
"Nothing tastes as good, as skinny feels."
I know you may not agree with me, you don't have to but hear me out before you make your judgement.
1. Skinny isn't a feeling, it is a shape.
2. Emotional eating is one of the contributing factors for being overweight and obese (I can say this because this is how I got where I am). By further perpetuating an emotional connection between the dieter and their food they will not be able to get emotionally well. It might guilt them into a different eating disorder than the one they currently have like bulimia or anorexia.
3. Taste is important to our bodies; a healthy amount of fat can tell our bodies that we are full and satisfied. We can train our bodies to seek after the taste of fresh ingredients and as we do this we can feel the benefits in energy as we seek premium fuel for our bodies, so lets not disregard this important sense.

I was out taking pictures with my mom last week, I realized how much more confident than I was just 6 months ago. My overall wellness has changed and it has nothing to do with my shape but it has everything to do with my confidence. I think I look prettier because I am not afraid to smile. I am pretty sure I am more fashionable because I am okay with not being invisible. My wish is that I could rewrite a phrase that was just as catchy, that would encourage women to take faith in who they are and their value.

Would you help me? I'll make you a deal if we find one or even a couple, I will make a cute little printable. Then we can all make refrigerator magnets and feel fabulous every time we look at it.

Here are a few that I loved that might serve as inspiration:

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

Please I am begging for your help.....

I love my family and there is nothing more precious to me than having them in my life. They help make me become a better person as I get to know them and grow with them. This understanding has brought me to want to be part of the promise: “And he [Elijah] shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers….” (Malachi 4:6)

A few months ago (just after we had moved), I met an older gentleman at my church. As he introduced himself, his name brought me back to my roots. When I told him that my grandma had the same maiden name as his last name, he asked where she grew up. I told him and he said, I had cousins from there. As it turned out he was my Grandma Twila's first cousin. My grandma was a major part of my life and impacts much of the way we sisters act. She was kind, loving, nonjudgmental, pleasantly plump, relaxed, and genuine. It was so exciting to have someone I felt instantly linked to that could share my love for such a great person.

Fast forward to last week. This cousin told me that he had pictures of my great grandfather (his uncle) that he wanted to give to me. Honestly, I never knew my great grandfather's name (Dad always called him grandpa) or much about him, but as I looked at these pictures I could see much of the goodness that was passed on to my grandma. It's been fun to share these pictures with my family and learn more. And remember all the treasure I still have to find as I see these pictures on my wall. It was incredible to be trusted with such a sacred heirloom as these pictures.

My Great-Grandfather with similar laugh lines in his cheeks and eyes as my Grandma Twila.

I've gotten to delve a little into family history as we've been issued a 40 day challenge to find a family name that is incomplete or currently unconnected to it's family. Then learn about that person and their story and find out how you are connected back to them.

My Great-Grandfather at a ground breaking for a new church. He's the cute little man on the far left.

Genealogy work is important for everyone. I have a distant Holland cousin that has been the means of uncovering a huge chunk on my mom's line. He is doing it because he knows that those people and their stories matter.Mom has shared some of those Holland ancestor stories with us. We had ancestors that bravely, helped aid in hiding Jews during the Holocaust. Knowing stories like this helps me know that I can be brave enough to stand up for what is right when others aren't willing or able to.

It honestly breaks my heart to see on my family fan charts when an individual's parents or children are not known. If we knew the stories and people missing, we could have added strength in hard times, but most importantly those incredible people could be remembered.

I think a great way for us to know where we're headed and who we are, is to understand where we came from. I am positive that those that have gone before me can make a profound impact on me in ways I can't yet comprehend.  I challenge you to take the leap and dive into the histories of your ancestors as well. Also, if you have any advise, please, please share.

With Love,
Al

So this post was going to be how to save money at the Holidays but totally morphed into something else. The rest of the month this blog is going to be filled with seasonal suggestions but we want it to be known that these lists are to help simplify holidays not to bring additional stresses or to-do's, so I guess this is a good place to start.  

I love a good deal as the next frugal momma, but it seems like every Black Friday seems to be bigger than the year before. There are so many good deals that it is easy to get caught in the I want so therefore I need trap. It is really easy to get everything we "need" plus a few things that are "good deals" that we never considered.
My least favorite holiday memories are the time: (1) I was sick for weeks after waiting from 3 am to 5:30 am in the cold at Best Buy to get a laptop and then spent the rest of the day checking off my list looking like a zombie from lack of sleep, (2) It took me 30 minutes to get a few rows of Walmart only to have a total breakdown and turn around (it took Slim Jim 30 minutes to find a parking spot and my Father-in-Law saw a fist fight break out over DVD's), etc. These experiences left me feeling
As opposed to my favorite Christmas memories, that are filled with family and friends I love. They are ones like the Christmas Eves we got together at Grandma Twila's with our cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. We watched the black and white versions of Christmas Carol and its a Wonderful Life. Or the time we spent helping her put up her Christmas decorations and we would be rewarded with cinnamon sugar toast and hot chocolate.
I don't think most of us want a commercialized Christmas it really comes out of wanting what is best for our love ones. Commercialism is tide that is very easy to get swept up in (or at least for me). I think by wanting to give our families "everything" we are distracting from what we would really like them to learn and experience. 


1. Being Honest with yourself and your family as to what you can spend. 
Most of the people that we will be giving presents to us care for us enough to want what is best for us. We all love to have that awe moment when someone opens a gift but that doesn't require a certain price tag.

Christmas Towel Tutorial & Free Printable

Last year we knew we wanted to give our grandparents a gift but really didn't have the money to spend. Our families are very religious so I knew that they would appreciate a gift that highlighted the reason for the season. I decided on a pretty framed scripture with a customized towel. The gift took very little time and spent very little (I only had to pay for the frames and I purchased them at the dollar store, the ribbon and towels I already had on hand). I was able to do all four of the gifts at the same time, I think it took an hour and half.


2. Make a simple list and keep it close as a reference. 
I assess the needs or stages of my nuclear family and then as many of those holes with homemade gifts. Keep in mind for young children you don't need to give them expensive or a lot of gifts just gifts that they will like.

Here is my list for the kids this year, taken from Instagram. I am pretty sure that I will not get through it all but I am going to try to do the things that are most important and feel out what could be saved for Valentine's Day or Boston's birthday

3. Think about the person you are "shopping" or making for. 
Last year Al and I went together on making several gifts but before began we scoured Pinterest looking at our friend's boards. We tried to find good matches for their personal style or needs.

I had Momma Shaffer snap a shot so you could see it in use.

My dad had given us his old truck (that he loved dearly) a few months previous, when we put our new plates on we saved his plates and made him a license plate keyholder. It was another easy gift but my dad and mom use it every day. We took a piece of wood that we hand on hand from other wood projects (guess someday we could show you those) routed the wood, spray painted, applied some hooks we had on hand (if you don't have any on hand they are just a couple dollars) and attached the license plate. It has been enjoyable for him because he was able to remember those summer drives with his girls beside him.

The picture of Jesus with the little child symbolizes our angel brother. My mom carried him full term only to loose him before birth.

For mom we knew it would be kind of fun for her to have individual pictures of her whole family for her office. So she could show off each child and grandchild. Last year after the school year ended she took it home and since then it has been sitting on her mantel. When ever we go home my kids always want to play with the "blocks". Again we were able to make these out of supplies we already had on hand. The base is a 4 by 4 from the time that Slim Jim and Samson tried to make us sturdy benches that Dad ended up helping them rework to a much more manageable weight and size. And the blocks were cut by Samson he took all the 4 by 4's and cut them down to 1 by 1 by 1 blocks. We sponge painted all the blocks in a oil based paint that we had on hand from refinishing Al's kitchen table. I then cropped pictures with rounded corners of each family member in Photoshop to fit the block. Al cut out a number (for the order they joined the family), a birth date, and a name in vinyl on her Silhouette. After hours of weeding vinyl we applied each one and then applied several coats of Modge Podge and it was good to go.


4. Come up with creative ways to make memories not spend money.
If you have a group of girl friends that you are close to that you want to do "something" for but the money isn't there to purchase a gift for each one. Plan a girls night in. Have everyone bring a dessert/snack, favorite colors of nail polish and rent a chick flick (or to save a little bit more watch a classic chick flick you already own and no in and out like Anne of Green Gables).
Al and I did this last year and it was so fun, we just forgot to snap a picture.  But a Christmas story book reading could also be fun for your friends with kids with simple chocolate milk and marshmallows.

5. Share your talents/time with neighbors. 
Instead of another plate of cookies maybe you could invite them to go caroling with you or invite them over for games. 

Don't you love Jo and I's little Christmas Dresses?

Growing up we had several adopted grandparents (most of them were shut ins) that we would visit through out the year. The always had great stories and we were really taught by example how lucky we had it and how to serve others. December was my favorite month to visit our "other grandparents" because we got to act out the nativity as a family. Dressed up in bathrobes, stick horses and baby doll in hand we would do a creative remix of the nativity scene (there were just 4 of us so not hardly enough to fill the whole nativity, there was always double casting of several roles. Dad would read the Christmas story from the scriptures and we would quietly act it out. Without a doubt we learned the reason for the season and were able to give those shut ins the companionship that they desperately needed.

6. Don't run faster than you have strength. 
I know I have a tendency to over do things and often times this means that I don't get the sleep I need or enjoy my family as much as I should. Like a home without clutter makes our home a place of refuge, the holidays without the "fluff" will bring calm to our minds and good memories for our souls. From year to year, person to person we will need to evaluate what is "fluff" and what isn't.

This is from Slim Jim and my first Christmas married at my inlaws house. My mother law has the prettiest home on the holidays.

For me last year the "fluff" that I removed was a perfectly decorated tree with glass balls, Boston was crawling & standing and I didn't want her to be tempted by the glass ornaments so I just cut strips of fabric on the bias and tied it. It was very simple and stress free. It was the third year in a row that one of us had lost a grandparent during the holiday season and I couldn't muster much Christmas "fluff" spirit.

This was the first year Ryder really understood the concept of Santa, he woke up at 3 am. Which wasn't really ideal because I was about 37 weeks pregnant and very tired. He was so funny about his stocking.

I don't think a complete list of how to keep calm during the holiday season but these are the things that help me. What would you add to this list? What are you doing different this year compared to years past? 

Since we are two days into December, we are just going to say we hope you have a calm and enjoying Christmas season. And have an enjoyable and wonderful memories with those you cherish.

I know we are one day late from our usual link up but everything kind have has been crazy lately so we didn't get one up but we sure miss seeing your stuff. So we are making it today instead? Is that good with you. Alright it is settled. 
Remember, if you haven't to put in for the Bumblebee Dress & Fabric giveaway you should.
And if you have a Halloween Costume that you have blogged about (even in years past) add it to Halloween the link up party, all links will be pinned and shared in the month of October on our social media platforms next year.
There is a Facebook Group that we have found to be useful for exclusively promoting Crafts/DIY that if you would like to join email us at shaffer dot sisters at gmail dot com and we will add you.
We want to see the stuff you have done lately, add your links and comment on a few others because we all love getting comments.  



We love Christmas, it is hereditary I think. My Grandma Twila's house was the "Christmas house" of our small town it was a beacon of joy and celebration to all that drove by or entered her home. Her grandchildren felt blessed to have the job of being Christmas elves, which depending on our size could be anything from checking for dead lights and fuses, setting up the Christmas village (which took up two large fold out tables), outdoor lighting, window clings, Christmas train.....the list goes on and on. Because she had so much that needed to be done we usually began working just after Halloween and by Thanksgiving it was ready to go. It was always magical; her warm laugh, Bing Crosby Christmas eight tracks, Cinnamon Toast and Hot Chocolate. The agreement that Grandma and Grandpa made is that the lights couldn't be turned on until Thanksgiving evening, but she was always prepared to take full advantage of the holidays.
Another very important part of our Holiday festivities, was the homemade Christmas presents that Momma Shaffer would help us make for each other. Sibling gifts were almost exclusively homemade for much of our childhood. Our sibling gifts were usually the only Christmas presents we were allowed to open on Christmas Eve.
Probably my favorite Christmas still to this day, was the year that I went to the fabric store picked out three coordinating fabrics and made Al a cap sleeve shirt, a two layered knit skirt and a little jacket and then I found a matching pair of shoes. It was so nice for me to be able to express my love to her in the time I spent working on it.
All of us girls will almost exclusively be doing our Christmas' homemade, and want to help share the homemade love. We are asking you to share your creations, lists, & ideas with us through social media (Instagram, Twitter & Facebook), use the hashtag #christmashomemade so we can keep up with you. We also will be doing a daily idea roundup from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve on an array of seasonal ideas (if you have an link that you would like to draw attention to please e-mail us this week to shaffer dot sisters at gmail dot com and we will find a spot for it in one of our roundups).

When I think of summer, I think about going over to my Grandma Twila's for Rootbeer or Cherry 7-Up Floats. I usually I went for the Cherry 7-Up floats but since they added all the antioxidants a few years ago it just doesn't taste the same. So I have made my peace with Rootbeer floats. And they have become one of my new favorites.
This summer I have tried to be more mindful of the things I am putting into my husband, children and my own body. When Ryder, Boston and I were doing our grocery shopping we walked by the frozen yogurt/ice cream section. I spotted some Vanilla Non-fat Frozen Yogurt and I thought I should be able to make a float out of that because any dairy product when mixed with a carbonated drink will fizz and usually a little foam.
Long Story Short: IT WORKED!!
Ingredients:

Non-fat Vanilla Frozen Yogurt
Rootbeer brand of your choosing

Put the Frozen Yogurt in a cup. Then Cover it in Rootbeer. Enjoy, knowing that you have made a slight comprise with your kids so they can get a taste of childhood without lots of calories of fat (the calories from sugar I am not going to do anything about because I think diet drinks taste gross!)

Today we are contributing over at A Jennuine Life for their Lost Art of Sewing Series, head over there for all the technical stuff behind this project.

Today I am just going to tell you about the woman who inspired the "Wanda Gown".

I really wanted to make Boston and Easter dress since I have not made a formal dress in almost a year,  I felt up to the challenge but all my patterns were 3 hours away in our storage unit. I asked my mom if she could send me some of hers. A few days later I received by media mail, 3 vintage patterns that she had borrowed from our home town neighbor, Wanda.

Wanda is a sweet lady that lives a couple miles down the dirt road from my parents. She is one of the warmest, most talented women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Her handwriting is like beautiful calligraphy, her food is awesome and her sewing is legendary. Her warmness penetrates the room and instantly makes the room comfortable.

She is in the same quilting group (a group of women who get together and tie quilts for newly married couples) as my Grandma Twila was. As a kid when we would go trick or treating she'd always have a grocery bag prepped for my family, filled with her delicious homemade popcorn balls (My Mom says she still sets some out for my parents, even though we are way beyond that stage).

Knowing and learning from women like her is one of the greatest rewards of growing up in a small town. When my grandfather passed away she and another golden woman brought us cinnamon rolls and a casserole, both were so appreciated and the tastes were certainly welcome.

Wanda and I share the love for fabrication, and she taught me my first invisible zipper.
Momma Shaffer is talented at sewing but is scared stiff by zippers, so often times when she was putting in a zipper for a special occasion and didn't have the time and/or patience it would go to Wanda. She would always return it with machine-like precision. For many of my 4-H projects, I went down to her house to get help with the zippers.  She was always so kind, patient, and comforting as I stressed about messing them up.  As I was stressing about the zipper for this project I remember sitting in her dining room and how her reassurance gave me calm.

Knowing that Wanda went through these three patterns having full faith that I could sew them gave me a real vote of confidence. I carefully looked them over and I decided on McCall 927, a dress pattern from the 1940's. There were times where I felt like I wanted to call this dress quits then I would remember that she told my mom that she knew I could handle the dress pattern.

The most amazing thing about one of my sewing foremothers is her talent is uplifting and encouraging. Is there some out there that you feel is a sewing foremother? If so tell me about her in the comments.

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers."  Is a scripture from Malachi 4:6.  That is in the Old Testament of the Bible.  In our church, this scripture is often referred to, when we talk about our family history.  We love our ancestors.  Most of us have extensive details of those who came before us.  

One of the books I own, talks about my Great Great Great Great Grandfathers' massive hands.  Did you know I have never met someone with hands as big as mine- except my own fathers hands.  

When I was young, we often  went on family trips to visit my Great Grandfather.  One of the attributes that I have from him is my ability to work slowly and carefully.  My hand stitching is even and done with ease. I also spend alot of time intensive detailing on my acrylic paintings. Grandpa Shaffer could wittle a toothpick(al mentions it in this link) into a working chain, or make a fan.  I wish I had a picture of that, that I could show you.  Another attribute is a funny little feature that a few of us Shaffer Sisters seem to posses.  We have thick dark eyebrows.   Believe me when I say we trim and pluck, often.  


We as Shaffer Sisters like to think we can do hard things.  I guess the reason we are so bold, is that we have seen those we love be succesful at the hard things they took on.  Grandpa Shaffer and his wife Lucille were asked to restore the Lucy Mac Smith home   in Nauvoo Illinois.(This link is used with permission from Stephanie Schultz-author and photographer of the linked blog)  He also built churches and homes all across the western United States.
His father Dick Shaffer invented and patented several tools, to increase his productivity.  He was a faithful and loving husband.  Always working hard, honoring his wife, and keeping his patience.  


Grandma Twila almost single handedly raised 6 kids.  Later in her life, I remember spending a lot of time at her home, where she taught me to clean, bake, and make candy, as well as to love the little things in life, like a good head massage, a catnap, or just to sit around during meal times and talk.
Grandma Betty got her bachelors and masters degrees while raising three children and running a ranch.  She took night classes over an hour drive from her home.  All the while sewing, keeping house, and helping her aging parents.
I remember our own mother sewing, beautifying our home, baking the best oatmeal cookies for skiing trips, potty training us at about 1.5 years of age, washing and neatly folding cloth diapers, teaching us to read, sew, love and live the gospel, and a love of continual learning and improvement.  We often attribute my parents with the talent of perfectionism and dedication.  They are devoted and imoveable.  

Here are the answers to the questions that Jo asked me.

1.If you could use 1 3 word  words to describe yourself, what would it be?
"Just not funny."
Kidding, I think it's a close tie between assertive and exact (maybe that makes me intense). I have always been bolder when it comes to voicing my opinion. My friends may not know this about me quite as well, but my family definitely does. This combination may have been what made Dad say to his twelve year-old daugher, "Al, you're just not funny." This torchured me for over 10 years and just in the last year I found out that Dad was only joking  all along (apparently it was a line from the movie A River Runs Through It). I would say my intense personality either drives people crazy or makes them laugh.


2. What is your favorite Artistic medium?
I really love to sketch and always have for as long as I can remember. Now I mostly do it for projects I need to design, but I would love to get back into the habit of one 10 minute sketch each day to improve that ability. I'm not sure if quilts count as well, but I love to make them and they inspire me. Not only that but they serve a purpose beyond just aesthetics.


3.  What does your husband do, that makes you feel giddy?
Power Shoes is incredibly supportive and involved. Whenever I am working on a project, I love when he either jumps in along side of me, or asks questions about what I'm working on and why I'm doing something. Last night's conversation was about bias tape and making button holes (I was trying to finish Ty's Madame Principal: Striped Polka Dot Bubble Dress for PR&P). Someday I'm sure he will be a good little assistant because he knows so much. Just like I hope all of Power Shoes' conversations of welding will give me a good foundation to learn it someday. This question has given me the perfect opportunity to pull one of my blog posts from the unfinished drafts pile to the actually used pile. This is written for Power Shoes in honor of his assistance on the Design Studio and always standing by me.

I just wanted to thank you for your incredibly supportive and all encompassing love for my crazy hippy-ish ways. Last year you didn't even object in the slightest when we started taking a hypnotic/meditative childbirth class; which was a completely foreign concept to you. You proudly wore Heber in public in the baby wrap as much as me because that was what he needed and was easiest.
And now as I am re-purposing this crib, you are encouraging me, letting me run with my ideas, and sacrificing your time, money, and precious sleep. Last night as I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep, it hit me how really fabulous you are (I've always thought you were great, but now I know you are so much more).
I am writing this letter to you for two purposes. The first is so you can know the extent of my gratitude. The second reason is so that I can never forget how amazing you really are on those hard days when my stupid pride gets in the way. Thank you for all the nights we stayed up 3 hours later than we had planned so that we could finish all of the crib re-purpose projects. Thanks for standing beside me as I spent precious money to do this project.
And most especially thank for telling me near the end of a very long week (when I was feeling guilty that I may have forced you into free labor), "Al, thank you for letting me help you with your projects. I've had a lot of fun planning and building with you. We work well together and I look forward to us getting to build more things together." This melted my heart deeper than any gratitude you've ever spoken before.

4.  Who is your favorite ancestor and why?
Honestly I don't know that much of our ancestors. I was going to say Grandma Twila, but I looked up what ancestor was in the dictionary, and it is typically at least one more remote than grandparent. As far as ancestors I actually knew, it is a tie between Great Grandma Lucille and Great Grandpa Shaffer (since they are all I have). Both used their skills and long lives to bless others. Grandma Lucille served in any way she could her entire life. Just before she died (at 92 years-old) she was still volunteering as a pink lady at the hospital to push people around in wheel chairs. It was truly a life filled with service. Grandpa Shaffer is special as well because he was a master craftsman. He could do amazing things with the work of his hands. Besides the homes and churches he built rock by rock, he was also an incredible wood carver. I don't think there's anything he couldn't make. He was even able to make a wood chain out of a single toothpick (can you imagine working on something so intricate?). The combination explains a lot of where some of my inherent desires come from. I love to serve others even if there is not always enough to serve myself, and there is an indescribable satisfaction that comes from creating something beautiful that forces my sewing machine to be out 100% of the time and my silhouette to be out 75% of the time.


5. Tell us one childhood memory, that has shaped who you are today.
From before kindergarten through the end of second grade  Tyler was my very best friend(then he moved away and we had to be friends from a distance). Even to this day I consider him one of the best friends a person could ask for. He was always proud to be my friend (as a little kid I was not as confident as I should have been) and despite only getting to see each other once a year or two, we have always stayed friends. When we were little kids I always felt like I belonged to the land of misfit girls with my very short and very curly hair in a town where all the girls had long flowing locks. That never even phased him despite all the girls in our class having little crushes on him. As a first grader Tyler and his dad were watching the Miss America Pageant. While watching it Tyler asked his dad if girls with curly hair could win the Miss America Pageant too? His dad told him yes. His response was really excited, "Sweet, I'm going to go tell Allison that she could win the Miss America Pageant someday." (Obviously I wasn't there for this, but Tyler's dad told my mom the story when we were little and it has stuck with me forever since). I learned that instead of looking at our differences as curses, we need to think of them as unique opportunities to bless others life. Knowing that I was a Child of God and reminding me that He made me perfect just the way I am was the best gift a friend could give. I was able learn that whatever I dreamed could be possible. That is the gift that I hope to give to my children and all that are near me.

6. What books are you reading, right now?
Hmm, well this last week I just read The Candy Shop War: Arcade Catastrophe and The Outsiders (read it with my 12 year-old brother-in-law).
And I am in the middle of reading many books but my main focus is Les Miserables and the Book of Mormon (Black List, Animal Farm, How to Win Friends and Influence People, The Hobbit, The Magician's Nephew, Stargirl are just another handful on the list of someday when I don't have such fun people around). I want to know the later by every  means possible. This is one of those books that after I read it, I will never actually be done.

7.  What has been your life's biggest challenge, and how have you overcome it?
Patience, and having the calm and faith that should accompany it. This is something I didn't have to learn as much of as a kid, but I have learned time by leaps and bounds as I've been married and begun to raise a family. I've seen my patience grow as we've played the waiting game for moving onto something bigger and better in the last 6 months. The calm and faith was learned from months of stressing, searching, praying, and waiting. In those moments of greatest doubt and uncertainty we were not left alone. I had some really wonderful opportunities to feel peace and comfort, and most importantly Heavenly Father's desire for what was best for me and his all encompassing love. Since one of those more profound moments, we have just trusted that it will be okay and kept swimming along (paying tithing, trying to make ends meet, finding ways to serve those that most need it, and finding joy in the journey) as best as we could.


8. Do you look like your mom or your dad?
 Haha. Funny question. Mom and Dad are complete opposites. Dad has straight, black hair, olive skin complection, and dark chocolate eyes. Mom has blond, curly hair, sky blue eyes, and ivory completion. Besides both of them having tall-ish builds, they are polar opposites when it comes to appearances and personality so naturally all of us kids are a melting pot of Mom and Dad. Therefore you wouldn't know we were siblings unless you know our mannerisms. I would have to say, I think I look more like my dad. I have dark brown hair, nearly black eyes, and an incredible tan when I get out in the sun. There is one thing I definitely got from Mom though, and that is my crazy curly hair.
What do you think?


9. What is your greatest blogging weakness?
Pictures; I do lots of really cool projects, but those usually involve messes especially when you add in keeping 2 kids content while trying to be efficient. So I don't usually get a final picture taken in that moment. Further down the road the same opportunity may not present itself. I also stink at photography in comparison to Scary (I know, there's only one way to get better). Luckily Scary found a pretty easy but amazing, free photo editing program called Picasa.

10.  What is your greatest blogging strength?
 I'm not sure that I've been a hardcore blogger long enough to know for sure. I guess the good thing about my posts, is that I only write things that are significant to me, so don't write filler posts. If I'm writing a post it is because it matters to me and it may bring a perspective into someone's life. and I try to be as real, honest, and quirky as I really am (hence the awesome track).

11. Plan your ideal romantic date, detail-by-detail and share it with us. 
 Honestly the thought of a romantic date stumps me. I used to have an endless supply of date ideas running through my head (oh the single days, when there was time to daydream) and now the typical date is ordering Chinese, picking a movie, and curling up on the couch with my husband. It is fairly cheap, doesn't require babysitters, and you can never be late.
When we move into the Chicago area (2 more weeks-yikes :P), I think it would be fun to go to some musicals and museums; in order to do this, I would have to have a babysitter for the kids. I don't know what else is there, but since we will be there in the winter, it would be fun to get some warm roasted nuts as we walk safely back to our mode of transportation to take us home. As we are waiting for the tram to arrive, I wouldn't mind Power Shoes sneaking in a few kisses.


Questions for Nae:
What made you fall in love with Bubba?
Who is the most influential person in your life that shaped who you are today? Explain.
Where is your most favorite place in the world (that you have actually been to and brings peace to your soul) and why?
What is your favorite snack any time of the day?
What is your default meal to make when you have people over (include the recipe)?
What is your greatest challenge as a new mother of a seven year old?
What is the best approach for someone to get to know you and become your friend?
Tell us a funny story about what it was like to grow up with only brothers.
What has been the biggest adjustment marrying into a family that has 3 sisters?
What is your favorite movie to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket?
Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
What is the first thing that you notice about people?
Do you think that you are strong?
What is your favorite recipe?
If you were a crayon what color would you be?